[Signing] Flames sign 2017 4th round pick Adam Ruzicka to 3 year ELC

[sureLoss]

Sudbury was eliminated last night and the Flames wasted no time signing him. The draft rights were set to expire on June 1st of this year.

z - Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
.@CortexBusiness Transaction Alert: The #Flames have signed centre Adam Ruzicka to a three-year, two-way entry-level contract.

The Calgary Flames announce today that they have signed centre Adam Ruzicka to a three year, two-way entry level contract.

Ruzicka, a native of Bratislava, Slovakia, just concluded his third season in the OHL. On Jan. 9, the 19-year-old centre was traded from the Sarnia Sting to the Sudbury Wolves in exchange for three draft picks.

He finished the season third in goals (24) on the Wolves despite joining the team for only 30 of their 68 games. He had his best offensive season netting 35 goals and 43 assists for 78 points along with 36 penalty minutes in 65 games.

In the postseason, Ruzicka lead his team in scoring with three goals and 10 points in eight games. He was drafted by the Flames in the 4th round (109th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft.

[GranteedEV]

ehh. Not sold on him.

I'd rather have signed Tuulola or/and Joly.

[Samuelsson]

Career AHLer?

[868904]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

ehh. Not sold on him.

I'd rather have signed Tuulola or/and Joly.

Joly had a terrible season though and his competitiveness was questioned by his original team that traded him away and he didn't exactly light it up after being traded.

I'm not sold n Ruzicka yet but at least he showed some promise after being traded. He has the skills, needs the will. It'll be a long road for him but with that size and skill package, you have to give it some more time.

I think the Flames will still sign Tuulola.

[Reggie Dunlop]

I like it. Team needs a big body power forward type in the system. I imagine another season in junior, then Stockton.

[Incogneto]

I always like Ruzicka. I think he has been developing slowly, but in the right direction.

Very happy to see the Flames have faith in him.

[Robbob]

Big body with skill that can skate. What is there not to like? Tough crowd.

[iLoveLamp]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

I like it. Team needs a big body power forward type in the system. I imagine another season in junior, then Stockton.

He's an over-ager next season, no? I can't see many teams wanting to spend an over-age spot and an import spot on one player. He'll be in Stockton next season

[Robbob]

Stockton seems to have a lot of spots open with the amount of guys that have graduated.

[868904]

They should definitely bring him into Stockton next year. He needs to mature and understand what it is to be a professional.

I'd even bring him to Calgary right now as a black ace so he can see what Gio does on a daily basis.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

ehh. Not sold on him.

I'd rather have signed Tuulola or/and Joly.

They're not necessarily off the table yet. Joly's season hasn't ended yet, so they could still be waiting to get him signed like they did with Ruzicka.

Because Tuulola was drafted out of Europe, they don't need to get him signed until next year.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Incogneto

I always like Ruzicka. I think he has been developing slowly, but in the right direction.

Very happy to see the Flames have faith in him.

I remember a lot of people giving up on Ferland, and there were bigger obstacles surrounding him.

Patience.

[UKflames]

It never fails to amaze me how quickly people give up on prospects, especially when they have only just left juniors.

[Flamescuprun2018]

It was this article that sold me on signing Ruzicka especially coming from an ex-Flame turned coach Cory Stillman.

Thought Ruzicka was lazy and uncoachable but Stillman has clearly seen different and found him very coachable.

I am sure BT did his homework reaching out to Stillman before signing.

https://www.theobserver.ca/sports/lo...-with-wolves-2

"It’s not just Ruzicka’s offensive prowess, but also his defensive acumen, that has impressed coaches. Many a dangerous-looking rush has been broken up because the veteran pivot made an extra effort to get back, then used a quick stick to steal the puck.

“I’m not afraid to put him against any line,” Stillman said.

Defence is an important part of Ruzicka’s game, and one he figures has improved a great deal since his OHL debut.

“My first year, my draft year, was a little tough,” he said. “But every year, I get better in every situation on the ice, including back check and defending... It’s what my NHL team wants me to do, to be aggressive and be consistent.”

[David Struch]

Great news for Adam Ruzicka C. Linus Lindstrom C is about to be signed too! Plus they just signed Dmitry Zavgorodniy LW.

I'm also hoping Adam Ollas-Mattsson LD gets a contract and Martin Pospisil C could be signed too, if he is becoming an AHL'er nest season?

So this will just leave the following (potentially expected lol) prospects to be signed in the years ahead...

Eetu Tuulola RW
Filip Sveningsson LW
Mathais Emilio Pettersen C
Milos Roman C
Demetrios Koumontzis LW

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Big body with skill that can skate. What is there not to like? Tough crowd.

I think part of it is that when we've seen him televised in international play, he hasn't been very good.

[Gaskal]

Had his bouts of inconsistency before, so we'll see if that's still an issue.

[cannon7]

After a +19 on a Stockton team that struggled to keep pucks out of the net, I hope Treliving has a contract offer coming for Adam Ollas-Mattsson. What else does the guy need to do?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Most prospects that are drafted outside of the first round have issues to work on, otherwise they would be 1st round picks.

Ruzicka has NHL tools and size. What he needs to work on are the things that come with maturity: work ethic, preparation, physical fitness, systems play etc. That's why we have development leagues. That's how we also get guys like Andrew Mangiapane and Mark Jankowski to the big leagues contributing. Both of those guys had plenty of time developing in lower leagues because they weren't ready the day they were drafted.

I don't have a crystal ball, but Ruzicka has as much potential as any prospect in the system to make the NHL. Give him the opportunity over his ELC to show his progress and to earn another contract. Perhaps by the end of the ELC he'll be ready to play in the NHL.

[Svartsengi]

Originally Posted by SebC

I think part of it is that when we've seen him televised in international play, he hasn't been very good.

Slovakian coach is no good. I don't have link to article but I remember reading he is very connected politically in Slovakia not just within their own hockey federation. Many Slovakian players have spoken out against him over the years but it's tough to remove him. Flames staff warned Pospisil about him as well when he went to Slovakian training camp so I wouldn't read much into Ruzicka's play internationally.